Lead Data Analyst / Project Manager

Our financial services client in Phoenix, AZ is seeking a highly skilled Lead Data Analyst who can also function as a Project Manager. This individual will oversee end-to-end data initiatives, manage cross-functional teams, work closely with offshore resources, and drive delivery across multiple business and technology stakeholders.

This is a hands-on role requiring strong technical expertise, leadership presence, and the ability to manage project timelines, deliverables, and team performance.

Key Responsibilities

Data Analysis & Technical Execution

• Lead complex data analysis, data modeling, and data validation efforts across multiple projects.
• Develop dashboards, reports, and insights using tools such as SQL, Python, Power BI, Tableau, or equivalent.
• Work closely with data engineering and business stakeholders to understand requirements and translate them into technical solutions.
• Ensure data quality, accuracy, and consistency across enterprise datasets.
• Review and optimize existing data pipelines and workflows.

Project Management

• Act as the primary PM for assigned data initiatives, owning project plans, timelines, risks, and escalation paths.
• Organize and lead sprint planning, standups, backlog grooming, and retrospectives.
• Coordinate deliverables across business analysts, developers, QA teams, and offshore counterparts.
• Manage scope, budgets (if applicable), and overall project health.
• Provide clear, proactive communication with leadership and stakeholders.

Team Leadership

• Lead and mentor a blended team of onsite and offshore analysts/engineers.
• Delegate tasks effectively and track delivery across time zones.
• Establish best practices in documentation, coding standards, and project processes.
• Partner with leadership to build and scale the analytics function.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work with business units (finance, risk, operations, compliance, etc.) to gather requirements and define solutions.
• Serve as the main point of contact for technical discussions, clarification, and issue resolution.
• Collaborate with enterprise data teams to align with organizational standards.

Required Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience as a Data Analyst, Data Lead, or similar technical role.
• 3+ years of Project Management experience (Agile preferred).
• Strong hands-on experience with:
  • SQL (advanced)
  • Python (preferred)
  • Power BI, Tableau, or Looker
  • Data modeling & ETL concepts
• Proven experience leading teams both onsite and offshore.
• Experience working in financial services or highly regulated environments.
• Excellent communication, stakeholder management, and leadership skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• PMP, Scrum Master, or Agile certification.
• Experience with cloud platforms (Azure, AWS, or GCP).
• Strong understanding of financial domain datasets (risk, lending, payments, AML, etc.).
• Prior experience working with cross-functional architecture or governance teams.